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Reds to likely skip fifth starter due to off-day

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Axelrod's solid start 1:00

8/17/14: Dylan Axelrod allows two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven over six frames in his first start of 2014

By Mark Sheldon
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MLB.com |

CINCINNATI -- Because of a scheduled off-day approaching on Monday, the Reds are likely going to skip the fifth-starter's spot the next time through the rotation. Right now, the plans are somewhat fluid.

"We're kicking around the rotation," Reds manager Bryan Price said on Friday. "Right now with the off-day, we're trying to maximize days off for some of our starters here over the course of the next couple of off-days. We've been playing with so few off-days recently. [Johnny] Cueto will come back after the off-day [Tuesday vs. the Cubs] and [next] probably will be Mat Latos, and we'll see where we go from there."

The next time Cincinnati could use a fifth starter looks to be on Aug. 30 at Pittsburgh. Price said there was a probability that right-hander Dylan Axelrod would be brought back from Triple-A Louisville.

Axelrod, who was called up last Saturday to replace the injured Homer Bailey, pitched Game 2 on Sunday -- a 10-5 Reds loss to the Rockies. He gave up two runs and seven hits over six innings for a no-decision.

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.